Struggling teams = changes.
Thus, the Ducks and Kings were in action Monday morning, looking for solutions to their current struggles.
Anaheim made the bigger move, grabbing left wing Niklas Hagman of Calgary on re-entry waivers. The Ducks will pick up a prorated amount of Hagman's salary, about $1.1 million. For the Ducks, it's not a big gamble and could offer the vision of an all-Finn line: Hagman possibly playing with countrymen Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu.
The Ducks, with two wins in their last 12 games, need help up front in a big way and the change of scenery could help Hagman, who seemed overwhelmed by pressure and expectations in Calgary after arriving there in the Dion Phaneuf trade.
He was off to a slow start this season with four points in eight games with the Flames, leading Calgary to assign him to its American Hockey League affiliate on Friday. Hagman, who turns 32 on Dec. 5, had 11 goals and 27 points in 71 games last season with Calgary.
“I met with Nik last Thursday, when we placed him on waivers, and told him we have been trying to trade him," said Flames GM Jay Feaster in a statement. "While some teams expressed interest, no one was willing to take on the contract. I advised Nik that upon clearing waivers we would place him on re-entry waivers and I gave him permission to speak with other teams."
Meanwhile, the Kings recalled forward Andrei Loktionov from the Ontario Reign of the ECHL. He had been sent to the Reign by Kings' minor-league affiliate in Manchester on Sunday but did not play any games for Ontario. He had a team-leading 14 points in 17 games for the Monarchs.
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-- Lisa Dillman
Photo: Niklas Hagman. Credit: Ron Chenoy / US Presswire
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